The Differences in Attitude Toward Mental Health Services Between Japanese and American College Students

Abstract

To examine the different patterns in utilization of psychological services between Japanese and American college students, a total of 316 American students (122 men and 194 women) and 362 Japanese students (147 men and 215 women) participated in this study. We used the following psychological instruments: Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help scale, Interpersonal Openness (openness regarding professional psychological help) and Confidence Self-construal scale, Sex Role Inventory, and Recognition of Psychological Help. This study concluded that collectivism is a significant predictor of recognizing the need for mental health services in the U.S., while it is not in Japan. Compared to American and female participants, Japanese and male participants feel greater stigmas toward mental health professionals. Openness to psychological help collectivism was a significant predictor for openness among the American sample, while it was not in the Japanese sample. Collectivism was a significant predictor for openness among the American sample, while it was not in the Japanese sample. Individualism was a significant predictor for confidence in America, but it was not in Japan. As predicted, Japanese participants feel greater stigma and less recognition, openness, and confidence toward mental health services than Americans. It is important for mental health professionals to educate college students that individual who seek help have high masculine traits to ameliorate the negative attitude toward mental health professionals.